Driving mechanism



March 8, 1938. R M NARDONE 2,110,469

DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24, 1955 zsneets-sheei 1 c 'm 'lllllllllllllllll INVENTOR. Romeo /l/ /Vara7o/2e ORN March 8; 1938. R, M, NARDONE l 2,110,469

DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY Romeo M. /Va/done .Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,110,469 Drvmo. MECHANISM Bomeo M. Nardone, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 24, 1935, Serial JNo. 37,747

, 4 claims. `(ci. ies-,179)

This invention relates to engine starting mechanism, (although not exclusiverthereto) and particularly to engine starting mechanism o f the portable character,- such as has gone into extensive use at'airports and landing elds for aircraft, where it has been found to be of great convenience in the starting of a large number of internal combustion engines in rapid succession,

due to the possibility of ,manually transporting the device from one airplane to the next in succession, whereby a fleet of aircraft may be quickly prepared for take-off at closely spaced intervals of time.

An object of the invention is to improve engine starting mechanism of the foregoing character, the' improvements including ,structural changes in the portabl'e device itself, and also including a new method of energizing the portable parts, said new method being carried out by. the

n use of exible torque transmitting connections between a source of energy and -the portable parts, whereby the latter may be moved in any direction with respect to said source of energy, also toward or away from said source of energy,

vwithout breaking the driving connection between said sourcevand the portable device.

Another object isto provide for additional adaptability of such a portable device by equipping it with a plurality of work engaging shafts,

.0 whereby cranking may occur -in,divergent directions.

A further object is to `provide novel means for controlling the transmission of torque between related parts of the portable device, including a novel clutch structure and method of operation thereof.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from inspection ofthe following specification when read with reim-ence to the A40 accompanying drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the pprpose of .illustration only, and b are not designed as'- a definition of the limits of the invention, the scope of the invention being defined in the appnded claims. In the drawings: Fig. l is a view, in section of a portable device w of the character described, shown fin working relation to the source of energy, the showing being an illustration of one embodiment of the invention, and the torque regulating parts ofV the portable device being shown\in the non-transu mitting position? Fig. 2 is a view of the torque regulating lirts in transmitting position; Y

Fig. 3 is a view along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view along line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 5 and 6 show the torque regulating cams 5 in two positions.

Referring now to Fig. 1, reference character 3 designates a flexible cable enclosed in a suitable casing 4, which transmits motion from a xedly located prime mover 5 to the portable assembly l0 6. The latter includes a pair of shafts 1 and 3 .extending through the unit and projecting therefrom in divergent directions for purposes to be more fully explained hereinafter. Handle 3 facilitates guiding the unit 6 into place and holding l5 it against torque reactions.

Rotatable with prime mover 5 is one element of a normally engaged `cone clutch II, having a movable member I2, so that the clutch is disengageable by movement of a yoke I3, and a shaft l and lever I4, the member I2 being splined tothe reduced end I5 of the flexible shaft 3.

In theportable unit 6 there is a clutch IS consisting of a set of friction discs engaged by aV small initial pressure supplied by springs I1, such as to give a minimum torque capacity on the order of a few foot pounds. Springs I1 are backed up by a face-cam plate I3 movable along splines on a sleeve 2| in such manner that its movement to the-right compresses springs I1 so to load clutch I6 to a maximum capacity at least several times greater than its minimum. A series of balls 22 are interposed betweenthis cam plate and a second cam plate I3 supported on a ball bearing 23.

I9 is formed into a cone to act as one member of a cone clutch or brake. 'Ihe second member 24 is prevented from rotating byxguide pins 20 in housing 25, but is movable along these guides and is urged by springs 21 toward contact with 4o cone I9. Notwithstanding this engaging tendency, cone 24 is normally held in the disengaged position (Fig. 1) by action of spring 2l on shaft section 1, the latter having a shoulder 2! engaging the hub cf cone 24. Adjustment of fric- 4| tion clutch spring pressure is effected by turning nut 3| on sleeve ZI. The latter-has rather steeply pitched internal threads 36 engaging corresponding threads 31 on shaft 1.

In operation, shaft section 1 or I is engaged to 50 ihe part to be actuated (engine starter, for example) and the power unit motor 5 (which may be an electric or compressed air motor, a fluid turbine, or an internal combustion engine)i energized.` This causes transmission of rotary effort The outer diameter of the plate to the shaft 3, through engaged clutch Il, and from shaft 3 through gears 4| and 42 to the planetary gears 43 and 44 in series, the latter being secured to clutch housing 46. 'I'he resulting rotation of clutch disc I6 (at reduced speed) and sleeve 2| acts to pull shaft 1 to the right (due to the pitch of threads 36) until such motion is arrested by engagement of collar 29 with the end of sleeve 2l. This movement of collar 29 away from brake shoe 24 enables springs 21 to become effective to engage brake shoe 24 with the rotating part I9. Such engagement retards rotation of cam plate I9, and the resulting relative motion of the cams I8 and I9 causes cam I8 to move to the right and compress springs I'I. Shaft 1 must rotate approximately one-half of a revolution before the cam has moved its full distance.' When balls 22 are on the top of the rises, as shown in Fig. 6, no

further motion of -I8 occurs. Slipping of the part I9 on brake 24 then begins, and the part engaged byv shaft 'l (or 8) is thereupon driven with maximum torque passing through clutch I6.

After the portable unit is withdrawn from engagement with the work piece, spring 28 pushes shaft I to the left, to the position in Fig. 1, and it carriesvbrake cone 24 also to the left out of engagement with cone I9. The pressure of springs I'I, acting on cam plate I8 and balls 22, now rolls the balls down the inclines, to the position in Fig. 5, and reduces the pressure on clutch I6 to the minimum.-

What is .claimed is: I

.1. Engine starting mechanism including, in combination a cranking shaft, a portable housing for said shaft, a prime mover spaced from said housing, means extending downwardly from said housing to facilitate holding the latter' against torque reactions, a socketl in said housing to receive said downwardly extending means, a flexible torque transmitter drivably connecting said prime mover and cranking shaft and bearing means in said housing for said torque transmitter, said bearing means including a second socket parallel4 combination, a cranking shaft, a portable housingfor said shaft, a prime mover spaced from said housing, a flexible torque transmitter drivably connecting said prime mover and cranking shaft, and means responsive to operation of said torque transmitter to cause axial movement of said cranking shaft, said last named means including a slippable clutch, a sleeve threaded on said cranking shaft and driven by said clutch, and torque responsive means coacting with said housing and said sleeve to vary theengaging pressure on said slippable clutch.

4. Engine starting mechanism including, in

combination, a cranking shaft, a portable housing for said shaft, a prime mover spaced from said housing, a flexible torquetransmitter drivably connecting said prime mover andy cranking shaft, and means responsive to operation of said torque transmitter to cause axial movement of said cranking shaft, said last named means including a slippable clutch, aV sleeve threaded on said cranking shaft and driven by said clutch, and

torque responsive means rotatable with said sleeve to vary the engaging pressure on said slippable clutch, said torque responsive means including a friction brake having one part secured to said housing and a cooperating part rotatable with said threaded sleeve.

ROMEO M. NARDONE. 

